Pedestrian and cycling roads of the state network

Bicycle and pedestrian traffic connections in the state-owned network are divided into walking and cycling routes separated from vehicle traffic and sections on the roadsides of highways. The state-owned network includes approximately 6,100 km of separate walking and cycling routes. The separate routes are often located in urban areas and form a regional network of cycling and walking together with the street network. Separate routes can also be found in municipal centres and other destinations where traffic safety and numbers of users have required the construction of a separate route.

Approximately 730 km of walking and cycling routes are in poor condition (12%). Walking and cycling route maintenance strives to ensure that the routes can be used year round. The increase in the maintenance backlog of walking and cycling routes stopped in 2020 due to significant added investments. In order to increase the number of users, improving the condition of the routes is paramount. Removing the maintenance backlog will create favourable conditions for successful winter maintenance, as well. A road surface in poor condition is a safety risk.

Maintenance enables year-round use of walking and cycling routes. Urban areas strive to develop a route-specific maintenance plan for quality corridors. The need for new quality corridors has been identified on approximately 250 kilometres of the state-owned walking and cycling route network. The cost effect of these elevations is approximately 1.5 million euros annually. In autumn 2021, the state-owned network had approximately 65 km of maintenance quality corridors and the estimated length for 2022 is 115 km.

The aim of the National Programme for the Promotion of Walking and Cycling is to increase walking and cycling by 30 per cent by 2030. Developing the infrastructure and its maintenance play a key role in achieving this goal from the point of view of the state-owned network. Traffic safety must also be improved.

Regional cycling route networks and quality corridors have the most potential users, meaning that developing them will yield the best results. New connection needs to regional target networks have been identified on approximately 500 km of the state-owned network. In addition to this, the elevation of the service levels of current routes to meet the requirements for quality corridors is needed on regional arterial cycling routes, in particular.

The preliminary evaluation of the national bicycle traffic network (Valtakunnallisen pyöräliikenteen verkon esiselvitys) was completed in 2021. It identified the scope of the target network as 10,000 km.  The network connects regional centres and significant travel destinations. Service level targets were created in connection with the work. The related deficiencies in service levels will mostly be eliminated in connection with other development projects. Service level deficiencies include issues such as the width of roadsides.

Monitoring the volumes of pedestrian and bicycle traffic is an important part of the development of the walking and cycling route network. The estimated scope of the pedestrian and bicycle traffic volume calculation system in the route network is 77 continuous calculating points and 46 alternating sampling points.

It is essential from the point of view of the user that the walking and cycling networks are continuous and clear entities and traffic arrangements near work sites are streamlined and safe. It is important to form a shared regional functionally classified network. The planning, construction and maintenance of a harmonised and continuous network requires closer cooperation between municipalities and the state to present a unified front of the service level to the users.